Keeper Condon's Shootout Saves See Ballyvolane Defeat Kinsale in 2009 Linnane Cup Final. Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past.

Keeper Condon's Shootout Saves See Ballyvolane Defeat Kinsale

Pics: 1st June 2009

*****************************************

Winners Ballyvolane

LINNANE LEAGUE CUP FINAL

Ballyvolane 0 Kinsale 0

(Ballyvolane won 4-2 on penalties)

Skipper James O'Shea won the Man of the Match award and keeper Ger Condon took the shootout kudos with two saves as Ballyvolane ambushed Kinsale in the final of the Murphy's Stout Mossie Linnane League Cup at Turner's Cross last evening. The game underdogs won 4-2 on spotters after a scoreless draw.

Kinsale

Kinsale dominated the game in terms of possession but, with leading scorer Derek McCarthy out injured, rarely got through to trouble Condon, mainly because of the play of the Ballyvolane backline, well set up by assistant manager Micky Lynam and so well led by man of the match O'Shea and his central partner Mark O'Mahony.

Kinsale started with just Derek Varian upfront and the international, just back from a training camp in Portugal ahead of this month's Regions Cup finals in Croatia for which selection has been confirmed, had a poor service in the second half.

Feeling it. Kinsale's amateur international Derek Varian feels the pressure
from Mark O'Mahony (right).

Shakehands. Officials (l to r): Gene Stephens, Pat Murphy (referee) and John Lyne,
with captains Ballyvolane's James O'Shea and Kinsale's Richie Holland (right)

That improved after the break when Kinsale ordered skipper Richie Holland further forward and brought in Stephen O'Donovan to stiffen the midfield.

Indeed, the number eleven that caught the eye in the first half was Ballyvolane's Martin Cronin. But he found an improving Gearoid Cummins plus the fresh muscle of O'Donovan too much before his outing was prematurely curtailed due to injury.

Anxious moment for grounded Ballyvolane keeper Ger Condon

Going down. Ballyvolane's Colm McManamon tumbles as he is tackled by Derek Varian.

Varian did have his best spell in the third quarter and was involved in a fine Kinsale move in the 65th minute. O'Donovan robbed Cronin in midfield and sent Varian free on the right. His well hit low cross found midfielder Ryan Coyle in front of goal but he lost his footing at the vital moment.

They had another decent chance a few minutes earlier, after a long throw by the impressive Mick Bradfield. Jeremy O'Donovan headed it on and Holland followed suit but Pat Murphy headed over from close-in. O'Shea and company though were always on alert and Condon was well protected.

Ballyvolane keeper Condon saved two shootout pens, but not this one!

After being under siege for the entire second half, Ballyvolane had the temerity to try and win it in injury time. John Magnier had come more into the game but his 93rd minute cross was high and hopeful. It broke kindly for sub James Corcoran but his 13 yard blast flew over off the bar.

Ballyvolane were lucky in the first period of extra time when a Holland free skimmed off the head of Jeremy O'Donovan and went into the hands of the keeper when a stronger contact would surely have produced a winner. In the second period a strongly hit shot on the turn by Ballyvolane's Peter Noonan spun wide.

Ballyvolane celebrate shootout win.

Kinsale had a nervy shootout win over Blarney Street in the AOH and their penalties were of a similar variety on this occasion. The first two rounds saw the sides all square at 2-2. Then Condon saved from Tyner and Magnier netted to give Ballyvolane the edge. Condon's second save, from Eamon Jones, widened the gap and sub Dave Hickey struck to make it an unbridgeable 4-2, a memorable triumph for Lynam and regular manager Derek Mellerick who missed the occasion because of a family holiday.

Ballyvolane: Ger Condon, Paul O'Keeffe, Dave Keohane, James O'Shea captain, Mark O'Mahony, John O'Driscoll, Niall Guiton, Colm McManamon, John Magnier, Peter Nugent and Martin Cronin. Subs: Timmy Kelly, Dave Hickey, James Corcoran. Philip Murphy and Shane Hurley.

Kinsale: Brendan Hurley, Gearoid Cummins, Michael Bradfield, Ger Harrington, Adrian Tyner, Pat Murphy, Jeremy O'Donovan, Ryan Coyle, Danny Searls, Richie Holland captain and Derek Varian. Subs: Declan Ryan, Stephen O'Donovan, Eamon Jones, Sean Lyons and Martin Elsayan.

Referee: Pat Murphy. Assistant: Gene Stephens and John Lyne.